Where Is the Best Place in the World to Live?

Where is the best place in the world to live? Scientists have conducted all sorts of studies to determine this, but one thing they've never done? Decide solely on the bands named after that place.

So, as usual, we're stepping in where science has failed. Under consideration below are music artists whose names are solely comprised of particular cities, states, countries or continents. (So, for example, "Japan" but not "Tokyo Police Club.") Also, no street names, or neighborhood names, or whatever. If we've forgotten anything, please let us know we're jerks in the comments section.

Cities

Boston: Boston the city is like Boston the band: Over. Fallen out of step with the times. Played out. Sure some people think Boston's still a big deal but whatever to them.

Chicago: A pretty important city that, like the band named for it, often gets overlooked. So thus you're tempted to feel sorry for the city/band, but then sometimes you think they kind of bring it on themselves. After all, who puts a whole damn pickle spear on a hot dog?

Berlin: Haunted by the notion somewhere there's a love in flames.

Phoenix: Hot and sprawling. Better in concept than execution.

Calexico: If the state of California were a banana, the city of Calexico would by at the very bottom, that dark pointy part. Best to remove it before eating.

Paris: There's a band and a rapper of this name, not to mention a smoking hot tastemaker heiress DJ. Basically, all things to all people, and comprised largely of butter.

Rome: I wonder if male groupies of the band Rome have a whole secret sex message board category with the title, "When in Rome..."

Nazareth: People often refer to Nazareth the band as the "Nazareth (meaning the city) of bands" and to Nazareth the city as the "Nazareth (meaning the band) of cities," so this really works out.

States

Kansas: Unlike a lot of the other jokers on this list, members of the band Kansas are from Kansas. They met in Kansas, formed in Kansas, and were like, "We fucking love Kansas and represent the shit out of this state, so we're going to call ourselves it." Unfortunately it turns out the band is better than the state itself, but they're better than probably two-thirds of the states, so that's not exactly surprising.

Missouri: Never seemed fair that the bigger, more important part of Kansas City is in Missouri.

Alabama: After Neil Young, a Canadian-cum-Californian, had those songs about how the American south is racist, the band Lynyrd Skynyrd had a song telling Neil that southern dudes didn't need him around. Meanwhile the band Alabama had already formed and were quietly killing it, with little fanfare, inspiring killer acts like Alabama Shakes and Balthrop, Alabama. Meanwhile meanwhile civil rights legislation got passed, so everything pretty much worked out in the end.

Texas: Everything's bigger in Texas, except for the members of this Scottish group, who still look great.

Idaho: Both the band and the state are deadly, deadly serious, and not the kind of thing you want to drop in on unexpectantly. Some gorgeous vistas/soundscapes, however, if you're willing to endure the rest of it.

Flo Rida: The greatest rapper name ever is also the greatest state ever, though not for the faint of heart: You must enjoy insane weather, insane laws, dangerous zoo animals living as pets, samples of popular '80s songs, giant, oiled muscles, rapping where the pacing/cadence almost never varies, rampant environmental destruction, and old people.

Arizona: Good iced tea though.Countries

Japan: Everyone thought they were going to take over the world in the '80s but that kinda petered out.

America: Dude never did end up naming his horse #shameful

Continents

Europe: You know it ain't easy, running out of thrills. You know it ain't easy, when you don't know what you want. What do you want? Whoooaaaaaa, you want to rock now, rock the night. ('Til early in the morning light.)

Asia: It's laughably absurd that Asia is considered one continent, considering that it stretches across so many time zones, cultures, oceans, and different types of dancing. The same is true about the band Asia.

Below: The best place to live in the world, based on the band named after it!

The best place to live in the world is....

Beirut: Isn't it obvious? Whether it's catchy, slightly-twee indie pop folk made by a young kid relocated to Brooklyn, or a place with bombed out infrastructure harboring delicious cuisine, Beirut is everything you want. Zach Condon had never been to Beirut when he named his group after the Lebanese city, but if he had he would have known he was making the right choice. Warning: In coming months it will likely become trendy to move to Beirut, so do it now before rent prices on sturdy, reinforced-concrete domiciles skyrocket!

Ben Westhoff is the former L.A. Weekly music editor, author of Dirty South and a forthcoming book on classic L.A. gangsta rap, for Hachette. He's written for Rolling Stone, Vice, Village Voice and Deadspin, and is currently a columnist for the Guardian.